Katie McCarron's Murder

Update January 2008: Kristina Chew is posting daily updates on the murder trial.  It is harrowing to read.  Technorati: Katherine McCarron.  Previous update

Update April 2, 2008: On January 17, 2008, Karen McCarron was found guilty of Katie's murder. On April 2, 2008, she was sentenced to 36 years in prison, with no possibility of parole.  News story: http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/27940.asp  Also see Dear Katie

Update below the fold -- through June 12 2006  July 7 2006
Katherine "Katie" McCarron, aged three,  was murdered by her mother, a physician,  the Saturday before Mother's Day, May 13 2006.  Katie had autism.

Yesterday many autism blogs had memorial posts; today the Autism Hub is closed in her memory.

Autism Diva: In Memoriam.
Kevin Leitch, Left Brain, Right Brain: In Memoriam
Aspie Dad: In Memoriam
Autism--Natural Variation --In Memoriam
ballastexistenz:  Our Lives are Devalued (In Memoriam)
A List of Murdered People with Autism

• 1996--Karen and Paul McCarron marry
• At some point, Karen McCarron qualifies as a physician and pathologist, and becomes  a partner in Peoria Tazewell Pathology Group.
• At some point, the couple settle in Morton, Illinois, where Karen McCarron's mother, Erna Frank,  lives. 
• 2003--Katie McCarron born
• 2004 --Katie diagnosed with autism
• 2004--Katie's sister, Emily was born
• October 2004 --Katie and her father move to North Carolina so Katie can enroll in specialized autism programs the Nightengale SchoolMr. McCarron's mother, Gail McCarron,  moves to North Carolina with her son to help with her granddaughter's care.  Mrs. Frank helps with Emily's care in Morton.
• Note that Dr. McCarron did not have daily contact with her older daughter Katie for a period of 20 months -- a pivotal time in toddler development, whether NT or "on the spectrum".   
• April 27--Katie McCarron returned to her mother's care in Morton, Illinois.  Note that Katie is suddenly separated with her primary caretaker, her grandmother Gail McCarron.  Paul McCarron was still working in North Carolina.
  
• May 13 2006--Katie, her mother Karen McCarron and McCarron's mother, Erna Frank are together at McCarron's house.  McCarron tells Frank that she will drive Katie around "to calm her down for a nap,"  while Frank stays at the McCarron house to watch the younger daughter, Emily.  McCarron actually drives Katie to  Frank's empty house.  While there, the mother covers the daughter's head with a plastic bag, and Katie suffocates.  She then returns to the McCarron home and carries her dead daughter into the house, arranging Katie's body to look as if she  is sleeping, and puts Katie's body to bed.  McCarron later goes out for ice cream, and stops by her mother's house to retrieve the plastic bag, which she then conceals at a gas station.
  
• May 14 2006--Karen McCarron, who is a medical doctor, attempts suicide by ingesting over-the-counter medication Tylenol.
• May 25 2006--Paul McCarron files for divorce, seeking sole custody of Emily, and is awarded a temporary restraining order freezing all their marital assets at least until May 30, when another hearing is scheduled.  Dr. McCarron had been  trying to sell her business interests in the Peoria Tazewell Pathology Group.
• May 31 2006 Paul McCarron thinks if his wife is released from jail she will either kill herself, attempt to see their 2-year-old daughter or flee.
• June 2 2006 Karen McCarron charged with additional counts related to the murder
• June 8 2006 Karen McCarron pleads not guilty.
• June 10 2006 Karen McCarron is out of jail after her parents, Robert and Erna Frank,  post a $100,000 bond.  Her father says that she needs more mental health care than she can get in jail.  Evidently she goes from jail to a "secure mental health facility"
• June 18 2006 -- next court date.
• June 25 2006--Karen McCarron's medical license suspended pending a review.
• July 1 2006--The McCarrons' assets are released, allowing Karen McCarron a stipend and the further payment on the McCarrons' mortgages.

Sources:
Huff Crime Blog
Phil Luciano's May 17 2006 column
AP May 17 2006 News Story
Copley News Service May 18 2006
Phil Luciano's May 18 2006 column
Phil Luciano's May 24 2006 column
May 24 2006 News story: Mr. McCarron files for divorce
May 27  2006 News Story: Details of Murder
May 31 2006 PJ Star News Story: Bail Denied
June 2 2006 Karen McCarron Charged With Additional Counts
June 8 2006 AP Wire Report
June 8 2006 Chicago Tribune Details on Case, "Not About Autism"
June 10 2006 PJ Star News Story
June 10 2006 Quad Cities Online
June 12 2006 Autism Blog Conversations with Katie McCarron's Grandfather, Mike McCarron
June 25 --WQAD News -- Suspension of McCarron's Medical License
June 30 2006 PJ Star - McCarron's Medical License Still Suspended.
July 1 2006 PJ Star -- McCarron Joint Assets Released

Comments

[sss]

August 2005- Karen McCarron sees psychiatrist for mental illness- very depressed and suicidal

[Bonnie Vallance]

Oh my! My relatives!
The Mc Carron's and Ryan's(congressman Leo Ryan and the Jonestown scandal) are like the Kennedy's.
Scandal seems to follow us! We need to reverently pray for peace.
I am of distant blood relation by the Mc Carron Clan. Walter Mc Carron the commissioner in The PBS documentary Angels too soon was my great Uncle. Along with the sucess are some failures.
People keep saying the MRS. is guilty yet she pled "not guilty" did someone see her do it? What happened?
Is she being given equal time?
I pray for this situation.
God Bless,
Bonnie

[Imagemaker]

Come, Honor thier memories and comfort thier grieving family members

remembrance.sugarbane.com

and "neverforgotten.sugarbane.com

[Dayna Marcum]

This depicts the worst possible outcome of a drastically misunderstood ailment many of our children face today. Personally, not knowing where to turn for answers (or for confirmation that there is some neurological vs behavioral imbalance with your own child) an immensely overwhelming stress cycle could have been easily adopted. Fortunately, there is a neurological research & development center being built by Texas Children's Hospital. Since its close to my heart, I'm helping get the word out and find out what kids of help people really need from a center such as this. What resources could this Neuro center give, other than a cure, hopefully naturally) for these neurological disorders, plaguing our kids today? What is most needed from your perspective?

[Fast Eddie Swift]

YEAH KILL THAT BABY!!!

I hope she planned to cook it up too. It's the best way to help the economy.